December 28, 1984

Money raised from this year’s annual fund drive will be used to update the collection and increase programs according to Mrs Jeanne Roberts, trustee and chairman of the fund raising committee at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Money received through the drive will be used to update the reference, nonfiction and new fiction collection at the library.

* * *

Art classes at Newtown High School this year have made unique gifts for the children in the pediatrics unit at Danbury Hospital. The students batiked animals, real or imaginary, front and back. These fabric pictures were cut out, sewn and stuffed, and distributed by Santa to the young patients at Danbury Hospital.

* * *

A New Year’s Eve Mural Ball on Monday, December 31, 9 pm to 1:30 am, will welcome in the New Year and honor artist David Merrill who has spent a full year painting a mural of Newtown landmarks on the wall in the Edmond Town Hall where the ball will take place. The door prize is a week at David Merrill’s cottage on Lake Bretton Pond in Livermore, Maine.

* * *

“I think the true holiday spirit is shown in Newtown,” said Sue Oppenheimer of the Newtown Fund, commenting on the 56 Christmas baskets delivered to needy families and individuals. This year the Newtown Fund served 34 families and 22 individuals from its depot at the Sandy Hook Firehouse, Saturday, December 22.

 

January 1, 1960

Governor Abraham Ribicoff has recognized the work done in Newtown by Constable Charles Rudolph and Resident State Officer James Costello, and this week wrote letters to both men in appreciation for their efforts in behalf of the Explorer Post car drive.

* * *

With the heavy volume of mail in December, work hours increased at all of the Newtown’s post offices for the present staff, and additional part time help was engaged where directly needed. Postmaster Albert H. Nichols of the Newtown office reported that during the month, 188,259 letters were cancelled, showing an increase of approximately seven percent over last year.

* * *

All the young people in Newtown, those in high school and those home from college, are cordially invited to the first annual Winter Wonderland Dance, to be held this Saturday, January 2, at St Rose Parish Hall from 8 to 11:30 pm. Music will be provided by the Shirelles, and preferred dress will be party dress for the girls and jacket and tie for the young men

* * *

Robert G. Reed has announced the opening of his office for general practice of law in the north wing of the Newtown General Store on Main Street, adjacent to the Edmond Town Hall.

December 28, 1934

This Thursday evening the Newtown A.C. will play host to the House of David team, the strongest of all basketball clubs. These boys with the flowing whiskers put on a brand of basketball that is marvelous to watch and it will be interesting to see just what the high scoring N.A.C. can do against them. One need not necessarily be a basketball fan to appreciate the evening of entertainment that this team will provide, as they are odd, novel, extraordinary, weird, eccentric, but always pleasing and entertaining.

* * *

Shortly before 11 pm on Christmas night, James Solen, of the Pines Inn, was held up at his place of business by a negro, William Brown, who has been staying at the Federal Camp on Botsford Hill. Mr Solen was in the act of making change when the negro entered, walked toward the end of the room and suddenly struck Mr Solen a terrific blow knocking him to the floor. Brown then grabbed $25 from the cash register and ran toward the front door. Just as he was going out he was grabbed by Mr Solen and in a terrific struggle, Mr Solen’s head was pushed through a windowpane. Brown, getting away. He was later arrested in Stepney.

* * *

Several weeks ago the Superior Court for Fairfield County granted permission to the Newtown Library Association to give its assets and trust funds held by it to the trustees of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. In November all books and trust funds were so transferred to the Booth Library.

* * *

More than eighty members and guests enjoyed the Annual Ladies’ Night Banquet of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce at the Parker House, last Friday evening. The principal speaker of the evening was Arthur Cone of New York City, youthful man-about-the-world who told in a most amusing fashion a number of his experiences encountered during the three and one-half years he has spent traveling and working his way around the globe.

 

December 31, 1909

A.E. Bevans of Dodgingtown has taken the agency for this locality for the Greyhound motorcycle and would be pleased to call and show the machine to anyone who may be anticipating buying one or anyone who would like to look it over.

* * *

The Taunton men to the number of 10 turned out, Monday, and dug out the snow blockaded road, so that the milk teams could get through. On Cole’s Hill they had to dig through drifts six and eight feet deep. Different people in Palestine telephoned for Dr F.J. Gale for medical aid, Monday. He politely informed them that he would cheerfully come as soon as the good people of Palestine dug out the road. Herbert W. Wright and James Farrell, with four horses, started early Monday morning to energetically dig out the road in order to get their milk through to Blanket Meadow, from which point it is carted on to Stepney. It was after 4 o’clock when they reached their homes.

* * *

With characteristic energy Henry B. Coger leads in getting in his ice supply, having harvested his crop, this week. Frank Banks did the work and the ice runs 11 inches thick. “The time to cut ice is when there is ice,” said Mr Coger.

* * *

J.A. Krohn, a man about 28 years old and calling himself “Colonial Jack,” walked into the Brick store Wednesday night about 6 o’clock and said he had walked from Waterbury. He said he was on a walk from Portland, Me, to San Francisco. His plan is to make 12 or 15 miles a day on the way out and thus become accustomed to the roads.